Jeep vs. a SXS

[ElGuapo]

Because its the time of year everyone is talking about offroad. Just wanted to understand from you guys on the pros and cons of jeeps and SxS's. Personally I think a jeep is the way to go. A used jeep that has been well upgraded can be easily found under 10K. These side by sides are really expensive before you even start putting aftermarket products in them. Plus the Jeep at least here in California you can drive on the street. I know in Arizona you can register anything and drive it. What are some of your opinions. Why one is better then the other.

 

[Racey]

SXS is much better if you are going to do lots of actual trail riding, they are narrower and more stable, will go more places. There are lots of badass trails in places like Utah that not only are jeeps illegal to use on, they just won't fit.

 

[squirtnmyload]

Here we go.........

 

[ElGuapo]

SXS is much better if you are going to do lots of actual trail riding, they are narrower and more stable, will go more places. There are lots of badass trails in places like Utah that not only are jeeps illegal to use on, they just won't fit.

Dont get me wrong. We rented one for a 5 day trip to ocotillo wells to take with our dirtbikes and quads. The thing was a blast. I am just thinking for the money it is way out of proportion. Maybe because they are a newer concept. I mostly do offroading in Ocotillo and above Mohave Valley so its much more open.

 

[Cole Trickle]

I have a pretty good feel for this.....

Jeeps are street legal (in CA)

Jeeps are better in the bigger rocks

Jeeps have air conditioning and windows

Jeeps hold there value better

SXS (with long travel) are 400x better in the whoops,sand and hard pack

SXS require trailers

SXS require helmets in CA

There basically like comparing appples and oranges

 

[Instigator]

Here we go.........

Let's just throw a Suzuki Samurai in the mix while we are at it.

 

[charlyox]

Some people have both.

 

[Wicky]

There is no comparison...

 

[TPC]

We looked at it as SxS is a step up from riding Quads.
We look at Jeeps as an entirely different way to roll.

 

[ductape1000]

The best answer is both.

 

[Stainless]

I'm hoping to be a Jeep owner tomorrow. Just want something I can drive around in the desert with a beer between my legs. Nothing fancy or fast and no care about It getting some AZ pin striping.

 

[Joker]

We just bought a rzr in lieu of a jeep for 1 reason. I drive my truck 5 days a week and the last thing I want to do at the river is drive another commuter car. It just has a different feel to it.:thumbup:

 

[ElGuapo]

We just bought a rzr in lieu of a jeep for 1 reason. I drive my truck 5 days a week and the last thing I want to do at the river is drive another commuter car. It just has a different feel to it.:thumbup:

That makes sense I guess. I was just confused by them before. But totally different riding and situations. A different vibe.

 

[primetime]

I have had both and they are both great in its element. Sxs is great for going fast,sand and wanting an adrenalin rush. The jeep was great to go slow in rough terrain and rock crawling but very rough ride and when something broke it was more $$ then a Sxs repair. I miss my jeep but would never sell my Sxs.

 

[GET SOME]

2 completely different worlds.. If you want too go fast and have the adrenaline rush get the side by side.. If you want somthing that you can resale and not loose your ass get the jeep..

 

[2Driver]

SXSs can be costly to keep running but we've had 6 SXS since 2006 and have made $500-$1000 on each one including the one i bought new.

Id plan on spending at least $5 a mile in upkeep and depreciation if you are keeping it more than one season.

 

[pronstar]

I'm hoping to be a Jeep owner tomorrow. Just want something I can drive around in the desert with a beer between my legs. Nothing fancy or fast and no care about It getting some AZ pin striping.

A DUI/open container ticket in a SXS isn't much different from one you'd get in a Jeep.

 

[Always Floored]

Two totally differents beast IMO

 

[Bigbore500r]

Totally different uses.

If u want to haul ass and slide around, or explore real tight trails - SXS

If u want to crawl, climb, cruise and explore or have street use, and value towing without a trailer - Jeep

I will say an xp4 1000 4 seater is probably less manuverable than a wrangler in tight stuff.....thats a long mutha!

I went the used jeep route....$2700 for this puppy and it will do for us till the kids get bigger and we can go faster

 

[BHC Vic]

Totally different uses.

If u want to haul ass and slide around, or explore real tight trails - SXS

If u want to crawl, climb, cruise and explore or have street use, and value towing without a trailer - Jeep

I will say an xp4 1000 4 seater is probably less manuverable than a wrangler in tight stuff.....thats a long mutha!

I went the used jeep route....$2700 for this puppy and it will do for us till the kids get bigger and we can go faster

Quit rubbing it in [emoji13][emoji13]

 

[Bigbore500r]

Quit rubbing it in [emoji13][emoji13]

Its disco on the inside if it makes u feel better....needs carpet kit bad! They sell kits on ebay with all the carpet for $130 but who knows how well it fits or holds up

 

[Groper]

I've had a LT SxS, and used it primarily at Ocotillo, and we had a great time in it but we were limited.
We have taken our Long Armed LJ places a SxS couldn't even begin to attempt in Ca,Az and Utah in very tight places, they both have their + & - , imo Jeeps are Unlimited (that's a Pun)

 

[Racey]

Dont get me wrong. We rented one for a 5 day trip to ocotillo wells to take with our dirtbikes and quads. The thing was a blast. I am just thinking for the money it is way out of proportion. Maybe because they are a newer concept. I mostly do offroading in Ocotillo and above Mohave Valley so its much more open.

Then a jeep may be better, it really depends on where and how you are going to use it, they each have their up and down sides. They are two different things that share some common ground.

 

[pronstar]

FYI if you build it right, Jeeps aren't limited to slow rock crawling.
A guy who fabbed up stuff for our Dodge trucks had a built Jeep TJ that ran with our Carli/Thuren suspended trucks...it hauled ass over the rough stuff.


Here's one setup that's designed for go-fast Jeeps.
http://www.offroadevolution.com/store/proddetail.php?prod=EVO-DOUBLEDOWN-REAR

 

[Cole Trickle]

FYI if you build it right, Jeeps aren't limited to slow rock crawling.
A guy who fabbed up stuff for our Dodge trucks had a built Jeep TJ that ran with our Carli/Thuren suspended trucks...it hauled ass over the rough stuff.


Here's one setup that's designed for go-fast Jeeps.
http://www.offroadevolution.com/store/proddetail.php?prod=EVO-DOUBLEDOWN-REAR

Lol....you have good taste.

Bad ass and easily the most expensive jeep kit on the market. If you have an extra 20k lying around for suspension that's what I would get[emoji41][emoji12]

 

[Boatracer36]

My girlfriend hates riding in the jeep. Says its way to scary and she gets car sick. LOL But loves the SXS :thumbup:

 

[pronstar]

Lol....you have good taste.

Bad ass and easily the most expensive jeep kit on the market. If you have an extra 20k lying around for suspension that's what I would get[emoji41][emoji12]

I just posted that link to show it can be done.
My buddy doesn't run that setup, he fabbed his up and runs Fox shocks that he tuned.

Here's a vid:

 

[t&y]

SxS's seem to be a hybrid of a sandrail and Jeep. Kind of hard to really compare them because they both outperform the other in different areas.

I prefer the Jeep (not the cookie cutter new school everyone has one version) over the SxS's, but that's just me. Not a big Glamis or Dumont guy and I don't have a need to drive fast over whoops really anywhere...

You can have a blast and dump thousands of dollars in either one.

 

[Cole Trickle]

I just posted that link to show it can be done.
My buddy doesn't run that setup, he fabbed his up and runs Fox shocks that he tuned.

Here's a vid:

I guess thats good for a jeep....looks a little sletchy to me and the whoops were really small....lol

Impressive to me would be a 8K pound truck like your old dodge mobbing that section while drinking coffee with the carli set up.

 

[throttle]

I went for the RZR so I could hit the sand. A jeep did cross my mind for havasu, however trails are narrow and I wanted something other than just another vehicle in the garage. The RZR has proven to be my favorite for sure.

 

[t&y]

I went for the RZR so I could hit the sand. A jeep did cross my mind for havasu, however trails are narrow and I wanted something other than just another vehicle in the garage. The RZR has proven to be my favorite for sure.

View attachment 381259

What is the wheel base on that RZR? I'm guessing it's just as long as most standard Jeeps but probably a little narrower.

 

[TCHB]

I have a pretty good feel for this.....

Jeeps are street legal (in CA)

Jeeps are better in the bigger rocks

Jeeps have air conditioning and windows

Jeeps hold there value better

SXS (with long travel) are 400x better in the whoops,sand and hard pack

SXS require trailers

SXS require helmets in CA
.

There basically like comparing appples and oranges

I have both and agree with the statement above. I bought my Razor mainly for the sand and cruise around town once in a while.

 

[Bigbore500r]

I guess thats good for a jeep....looks a little sletchy to me and the whoops were really small....lol

Impressive to me would be a 8K pound truck like your old dodge mobbing that section while drinking coffee with the carli set up.

Whoops and high speed terrain need a longer wheelbase and extra weight helps keep it planted and from being kicked around. Seems this would be hard to do even with a modded jeep....unless it was extended wheelbase and big suspension

 

[Bigbore500r]

What is the wheel base on that RZR? I'm guessing it's just as long as most standard Jeeps but probably a little narrower.

Surprisingly...a xp4 1000 rzr is 117" wheelbase, while a CJ / YJ / XJ 2 door jeep is only 93.5" or so. Those damn rzrs are big! 117" wheelbase.....29" tires, 18" of travel....size wize they are comperable to a 90s mid travel 4 seat sandcar

 

[throttle]

What is the wheel base on that RZR? I'm guessing it's just as long as most standard Jeeps but probably a little narrower.

Wheelbase is 117"
Overall width is 64"
Overall length is 146"

Mine is a bit wider and with the front and rear bumpers a little longer too. I have no idea how that compares to wheelbase of a jeep.

 

[t&y]

Wheelbase is 117"
Overall width is 64"
Overall length is 146"

Mine is a bit wider and with the front and rear bumpers a little longer too. I have no idea how that compares to wheelbase of a jeep.

Stock wheel base on my CJ-5 is right around 86". Cj-7's close to 94-96". I'm pretty sure the YJ's, TJ's are under 100" unless you get into the Unlimited. No idea on the XJ's but they are probably pretty close to the 117" if not a little longer.

Jeeps for sure have you on the width.

 

[Cole Trickle]

Whoops and high speed terrain need a longer wheelbase and extra weight helps keep it planted and from being kicked around. Seems this would be hard to do even with a modded jeep....unless it was extended wheelbase and big suspension

Solid axels are never going to go through the whoops like an a arm set up. I think the new rzr has like 16" of travel. My teryx with its long travel kit was a monster running through stuff fast. My jeep has good suspension and it's not a lot of fun in the hard pack and whoops.

 

[BHC Vic]

I've seen my buddy take his Durango through the whoops at about 80 out at his cabin in lucerne[emoji106]. Saw a Chevy Colorado flip end over end doing about 80 in that same section [emoji51]truck was two weeks old and insurance wouldn't cover since it was off road

 

[throttle]

Solid axels are never going to go through the whoops like an a arm set up. I think the new rzr has like 16" of travel. My teryx with its long travel kit was a monster running through stuff fast. My jeep has good suspension and it's not a lot of fun in the hard pack and whoops.

Yup yup, longer wheelbase and a arm set up give me the advantage in the whoops fo sho... Stock travel is 16" in front and 18" in rear

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

Sorry to revisit an old thread, but I decided not to wait for the diesel wrangler because the wifey is working at the hospital and I really don't want door dings or whatever else will come to our other cars plus I wanna hit the local trails which I'm told are overgrown and narrow anyways. Would you recommend buying an XJ that has lots done to it in the 5-6k range or start fresh in the 2k range and build off a clean slate?

 

[t&y]

Sorry to revisit an old thread, but I decided not to wait for the diesel wrangler because the wifey is working at the hospital and I really don't want door dings or whatever else will come to our other cars plus I wanna hit the local trails which I'm told are overgrown and narrow anyways. Would you recommend buying an XJ that has lots done to it in the 5-6k range or start fresh in the 2k range and build off a clean slate?

Generally speaking you will be far ahead of the game buying something with the mods already done. Problem with that is if someone half assed it you are stuck fixing the problems. Find something and post it up... this place is never short on advice.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

Thanks t&y, will do. I have some blind offers out right now. As soon as something gets more concrete, I will post

 

[Stainless]

Just became a Jeep owner for a second time. This time it's a old one and there's not much available to accessorize it.

It's mind blowing the $$$$ you can sink into newer ones with all the cool stuff available now. I see people buying used at 15-25k and putting 10K worth of accessories on them. [emoji33]